Marking Human Rights Day by Pursuing Justice for Political Prisoners

The RWCHR joined the Co-Chairs of the Raoul Wallenberg All-Party Parliamentary Caucus for Human Rights in coming together on the eve of International Human Rights day - commemorating the 69th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - and on the 4th anniversary of the passing of human rights champion Nelson Mandel

The families of political prisoners – including Ensaf Haidar [pictured above, left] , wife of Saudi Blogger Raif badawi; and Ti-Anna Wang [pictured above, second from left], daughter of Chinese pro-democracy leader Dr. Wang Bingzhang - joined Parliamentarians in Ottawa to highlight the cases and causes of their imprisoned loved ones, and what role Canada can play in seeking their freedom. For a video of the press conference, which aired on television and online: Click Here

This major Human Rights Day initiative included meetings with civil society, government, ministers, and parliamentarians. Members of Parliament were so impacted by the plight and pain of the prisoners and their families that representatives of every major political party were moved to deliver an SO31 parliamentary public statement calling for their release.

This day of pursuing justice was inspired by the lessons and legacy of Nelson Mandela - a heroic role model - whose release had a transformative impact on South Africa, thereby demonstrating the moral imperative of freeing political prisoners. Each of the prisoners highlighted on the occasion of this Human Rights Day embody the Mandela ethos, and is a heroic role model in their own right.

The RWCHR day of advocacy for political prisoners generated widespread media coverage and important public sensitization. Every major news outlet in French and English Canada covered the Human Rights Day initiative, including La Presse, the National Post and Toronto Star.